Let’s look at brushing our teeth. First of all we are supposed to brush after every meal according to dentists. But, as well, we are supposed to leave 20-30 minutes after our meal before brushing. And it is common European practice to eat more than 3 meals a day. And in fact my doctor here in Canada suggested I eat more than 3 meals a day, but to just have less at each meal. Bye, bye all-you-can-eat meals and brunches.
My point in these two factors is that toothpaste is more likely to interfere with the enjoyment of your next meal because you will have brushed your teeth within sight of your next meal. I think this is close enough to interfere with the meal. Ask yourself the question, “Does mint really go with everything?”
Which brings me to the question, “What do professional tasters do about the interference of mint toothpaste to the palate?”
I found some threads online where it was suggested that tasters would use non mint toothpaste. Elsewhere I think it was a wine taster (but I didn’t see credentials) who said that he does not brush his teeth in the morning before a tasting. He was quick to say that he brushes his teeth at night. But even this begs the question, “Doesn’t morning breath interfere heavily with the tasting?”
Wine tasters are one thing. But you would think there would be professional tasters for everything, especially packaged and prepared food. I couldn’t find one definitive site or even many sites partially covering this question. So now I wonder if it’s being kept secret from the public and of course the food preparer’s competition.
I can think of a few approaches. One would have the taster use mint toothpaste just like the vast majority of consumers because that is the environment the food is going to be consumed in. Or tasters might not brush their teeth in the morning for a day they are working. Is it possible to have an unflavoured toothpaste? I know some people use baking soda toothpastes. Does that have to have a flavour? Or perhaps the best minds in the country are working on toothpastes whose flavours break down really quickly but still provide cleanliness and decay protection.
Then, too, there is this article which states that most toothpastes contain sodium laureth sulfate or something very similar. This chemical creates the foaming action of toothpaste which makes everything afterward taste bad. How long afterwards would this effect a sensitive taster?
Certainly everything doesn’t pair well with the taste of mint. And it is getting harder and harder to find other flavours in grocery stores, pharmacies or even big box stores. I guess the sensitive will have to use the internet. But I’m not bullish on this idea.
Because I thought I could come up with more answers. But in this case the internet has let me down.
Perhaps the internet toothpastes can list pairings of food along with which flavour of toothpaste goes best with it. After all since there are similar pairings with alcohols this might catch on and help their businesses. That’s what the future should bring.
